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What Does Masayoshi Son Want?
Feb 1, 2025
Lionel Barber, former Editor-in-Chief of the Financial Times and author of "Gambling Man," explores the visionary mindset of Masayoshi Son, founder of SoftBank. He discusses Son's ambitious plans to invest $500 billion in AI infrastructure and examines his unconventional journey as an investor. Barber highlights Son's duality as a salesperson and disruptor, drawing parallels to historical figures. The conversation also navigates the emotional turbulence of investing in SoftBank, questioning how personal experiences shape disruptive leadership.
30:38
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Quick takeaways
- Masayoshi Son's audacious investment strategy in AI infrastructure reflects his vision of transforming the future through technology and innovation.
- Despite his successes, Son's approach shows the volatility of trading, underscoring the inherent risks and unpredictability in his financial career.
Deep dives
The Disruptor: Masayoshi Son's Unique Approach
Masayoshi Son is characterized as a disruptor in the business world, often seen as a fool in a traditional Japanese corporate landscape. His unconventionality allows him to take significant risks counter to societal norms, which often discourage such behavior. Despite not being a traditional inventor, Son positions himself as a critical gateway, facilitating the import of technology into Japan and investing in companies like Alibaba and Yahoo, which established his reputation. This outsider status and his self-deprecating persona allow him to strategically mislead competitors while building a significant global empire.
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